Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)

The Students First Act, introduced by Governor Reynolds and signed into law on January 24, 2023, makes state funding available to support the success of every K-12 student in Iowa.

How it Works

• Parents who choose to enroll their eligible children in an accredited private school will receive an amount equal to the per pupil funding allocated to public school districts for the same budget school year. Funds will be deposited into an education savings account (ESA) to be used for tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses as specified in the legislation.
• The state is issuing a request for proposal (RFP) from businesses with experience managing ESA programs. The vendor selected will support the transfer of funds from the state to families of eligible students and ensure program compliance.

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Download Spanish and English Infographic

Who is Eligible

ESAs in Iowa will be phased in over three years, based on the following eligibility:

Year 1: School Year 2023-24 (Complete)

• All entering kindergarten students
• All students enrolled in a public school
• A student enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 400% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Year 2: School Year 2024-25

• All entering kindergarten students
• All students enrolled in a public school
• A student enrolled in a private school with a household income at or below 400% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines that will be updated January 2024

Year 3: School Year 2025-26

• All K-12 students in Iowa regardless of income

Categorical Funding

Other student funding generated by categorical funding formulas will remain with public school districts. This will include funding for students who choose to leave their public school, and for all students who live in the district but attend a private school. In the first year of the program it’s estimated that Iowa’s public schools will receive approximately $1,205 per pupil in categorical funding for students enrolled in private schools.

How to Apply

The Students First ESA Application is available in English and Spanish. The application window for the 2023-2024 school year runs from 8 a.m. on May 31 through 11:59 p.m. June 30, 2023.

Note: Parents/guardians will first be directed to sign up with an email and password. Parents/guardians will receive a message from Odyssey asking them to confirm their email address. After the email is confirmed the parent/guardian can sign in to the Odyssey platform to begin their application.

School Locator

Please visit  https://www.iowaace.org/esa-schools/ to find an accredited private school near you.

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